Troubleshooting

Beginner

5 min read 5 stepsApril 20, 2026Verified April 2026

My Phone Won't Charge — Common Fixes to Try

A phone that won't charge is stressful, but the cause is usually minor. Work through these simple steps before assuming the phone or battery needs to be replaced.

At a Glance

Try a different cable and charger first

~40s

Before anything else, swap out the charging cable for a different one. This is the single most common cause of charging failures. If you do not have a spare cable, check if you can borrow one from a family member or friend. Also try plugging into a different wall outlet and using a different USB power adapter if available. Confirm the outlet you are using works by plugging in something else, like a lamp. If the phone charges with a different cable, the original cable was the problem — replace it.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: For iPhones, use Apple-certified Lightning or USB-C cables. For Android, look for cables marked "USB-IF certified." Cheap uncertified cables are a frequent cause of charging problems and can potentially damage the phone.

Clean the charging port

~39s

Hold your phone under a light and look closely into the charging port. If you see gray or brown material packed inside, that is lint. Use a wooden or plastic toothpick to very gently scrape the lint out, working from the inside edges toward the opening. Be careful not to press hard or scratch the metal contacts at the back of the port. A few puffs of compressed air (sold at office supply stores) can also blow out loose debris. After cleaning, plug in the cable again and test.

Warning

Never use a metal object like a pin or needle inside your charging port — it can bend the pins or cause a short circuit. Wood or plastic toothpicks are safe for this purpose.

Restart the phone while connected to power

~26s

Keep your charging cable plugged in and restart the phone. On an iPhone, hold the side button and either volume button until the "slide to power off" slider appears, slide it, wait for the phone to turn off, then press the side button to turn it back on. On most Android phones, hold the power button and select "Restart." Some phones have a brief charging recognition issue that a restart resolves without any other changes needed.

Check battery health on iPhone

~29s

If your phone charges but loses power very quickly, or shows an incorrect battery percentage, the battery may be degraded. On an iPhone, go to SettingsBatteryBattery Health & Charging. If the maximum capacity is below 80 percent, the battery has degraded significantly and a replacement is worth considering. Apple offers battery replacements for iPhones at Apple Stores and authorized repair locations. On Android, battery health information varies by phone model — search your phone model name and "battery health" for instructions specific to your device.

Try wireless charging to isolate the port

~27s

If your phone supports wireless charging (Qi charging), try placing it on a wireless charger. If it charges wirelessly but not with a cable, the charging port is the issue — either it needs a thorough cleaning by a professional, or the port has been physically damaged. A phone repair shop can clean or replace the charging port for a relatively low cost. If it does not charge wirelessly either, the battery or charging circuitry may need professional diagnosis.

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When your phone stops charging, the first instinct is to assume something is seriously wrong — a dead battery, a faulty phone, or an expensive repair. In reality, the majority of phone charging problems are caused by something much simpler: a bad cable, a dirty charging port, or a temporary software glitch.

Working through a few basic steps can resolve most charging problems in minutes without any special tools or expertise.

The charging cable is the most common culprit. Cables bend and flex constantly at the connector end, and the internal wires break over time even when the cable looks fine on the outside. Try a different cable — one you know works — before assuming the phone itself is the problem. If you are using a cheap cable that came with a third-party charger, replace it with a cable certified by Apple (for Lightning or USB-C) or one certified for Android. Poor-quality cables not only fail to charge but can occasionally damage the phone's charging port.

Lint and dust in the charging port is the second most common cause. Over time, pocket lint accumulates inside the charging port and prevents the cable connector from making solid contact with the phone's pins. Look inside the port with a flashlight — if you see lint packed in there, use a wooden toothpick very gently to dislodge and remove it. Do not use a metal object like a needle or paperclip, which could scratch the pins inside. Compressed air can also blow out loose debris.

If the cable and port look fine, try the outlet and adapter next. Plug the charger into a different wall outlet. Try a different power adapter if you have one available — adapters fail over time, especially inexpensive ones.

Restarting the phone while it is plugged in can resolve software-related charging issues. Some phones stop recognizing a charger due to a software glitch, and a restart clears it. Hold the power button, select "Restart" or "Reboot," and keep the charger connected while it restarts.

If wireless charging works on your phone but wired does not, the charging port itself may need professional cleaning or repair — something a phone repair shop can handle relatively inexpensively.

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